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Guide to Optimum Health
On DR. ANDREW WEIL'S GUIDE TO OPTIMUM HEALTH: A Complete Course on How to Feel Better, Live Longer, and Enhance Your Health Naturally, one of America's most trusted physicians and a respected voice for integrative medicine invites you to attend his first comprehensive one-on-one audio learning course. Join Dr. Weil to learn the same reliable, practical advice on natural healing that you would by attending a seminar with Dr. Weil -- at your own pace and in the comfort of your home. In 12 engaging and information-packed sessions, Dr. Weil shows you how to make positive lifestyle changes in the way you eat, exercise, relax, approach aging, and protect yourself against chronic disease. You'll also learn how to use specific vitamins, herbs, supplements, and alternative healing therapies to treat and prevent many common illnesses. With DR. ANDREW WEIL'S GUIDE TO OPTIMUM HEALTH, here are the skills and encouragement you need to start achieving optimum health today.
8 pages, Audio CD
First published April 1, 2002
10 people are currently reading
288 people want to read
About the author
Andrew Weil
181 books649 followersAndrew Weil, M.D., is a world-renowned leader and pioneer in the field of integrative medicine, a healing oriented approach to health care that encompasses body, mind, and spirit. He is the author of many scientific and popular articles and of 14 books: The Natural Mind, The Marriage of the Sun and Moon From Chocolate to Morphine (with Winifred Rosen) Health and Healing, Natural Health, Natural Medicine; and the international bestsellers, Spontaneous Healing and 8 Weeks to Optimum Health, Eating Well for Optimum Health: The Essential Guide to Food, Diet, and Nutrition The Healthy Kitchen: Recipes for a Better Body, Life, and Spirit (with Rosie Daley) Healthy Aging: A Lifelong Guide to Your Well-Being; and Why Our Health Matters: A Vision of Medicine That Can Transform Our Future (issued in paperback with new content as You Can’t Afford to Get Sick).
Combining a Harvard education and a lifetime of practicing natural and preventive medicine, Dr. Weil is Director of the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona, where he also holds the Lovell-Jones Endowed Chair in Integrative Rheumatology and is Clinical Professor of Medicine and Professor of Public Health. The Center is the leading effort in the world to develop a comprehensive curriculum in integrative medicine. Graduates serve as directors of integrative medicine programs throughout the United States, and through its Fellowship, the Center is now training doctors and nurse practitioners around the world.
Learn More:
Facebook.com/DrWeil
YouTube.com/DrWeil
Instagram.com/DrWeil
Flickr.com/DrWeil
Pinterest/DrWeil
Combining a Harvard education and a lifetime of practicing natural and preventive medicine, Dr. Weil is Director of the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona, where he also holds the Lovell-Jones Endowed Chair in Integrative Rheumatology and is Clinical Professor of Medicine and Professor of Public Health. The Center is the leading effort in the world to develop a comprehensive curriculum in integrative medicine. Graduates serve as directors of integrative medicine programs throughout the United States, and through its Fellowship, the Center is now training doctors and nurse practitioners around the world.
Learn More:
Facebook.com/DrWeil
YouTube.com/DrWeil
Instagram.com/DrWeil
Flickr.com/DrWeil
Pinterest/DrWeil
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
May 10, 2019
Western medicine is in a terrible place. Obesity and chronic illness and aches are increasing. Preventative, integrated practices are so important. So many people I care about are sick all the time. They don't move and they eat so much processed inflammatory crap and constantly throw antibiotics and other drugs at every minor condition then wonder why they feel so bad. I don't know how to even start a conversation because everything they are doing is hurting them. I try to be an example but my lifestyle is too overwhelming them. I try to tell them You dont have to run a marathon or even run at all, just get up off the sofa and go for a walk. So I'm leaving this here.
May 15, 2018
3.5 starsThis audiobook covers a lot of the same topics Dr. Weil has discussed in other places, but it's nice to have this in one book. The audiobook I listened to had serious quality issues, which was incredibly frustrating. Be cautious if you buy this for yourself.
March 16, 2019
Dr. Weil’s guide offers important reminders on health and nutrition. A lot of it is common sense. Yet it serves as a reminder of how much we control body and mind.
October 20, 2011
This guy's book is even better than his beard!
His background in botany and medical education combines for excellent and well formed observations on health.
His background in botany and medical education combines for excellent and well formed observations on health.
August 31, 2016
Loved this book. Great way to start understanding alternative medicine.
April 10, 2023
This was a great audiobook. I love listening to Andrew Weil's soothing voice and appreciate his integrative take on health. Some notes I took for myself:
Session 3 - Healthy Eating Throughout your Life, Part 1
- How we eat is one of the determinants of how we feel and how we age.
- Cook mushrooms before eating
- Eat less animal proteins, more fish and beans
Session 4 Healthy Eating Throughout your Life, Part 1
- Vitamins: don’t look at supplements as substitutes, but to ensure that gaps in the diet are met
- Vitamin E: 400 units a day are good and is hard to get by eating (too much fat)
- Water soluble vitamins: B complex and C - can be easily and quickly eliminated in body via urine, less risk of toxicity
Fat soluble vitamins: A, D, E, and K - these can accumulate in the body
Water soluble vitamins:
- B complex vitamins supplements (folic acid, folate) recommended for smokers, drinkers, erratic diets, stressful travel schedules, etc.
- Vitamin B1 Thiamin - if you drink alcohol take 100 mg a day
- Vitamin B12 for vegetarian/vegans, as it is only found in animal foods
- Vitamin C in 100 - 200 mg a day as supplement is a good idea
Fat soluble vitamins
- Vitamin A: important for skin and surface tissues, also has anti-oxidant and anti-cancer effects. It is made by the body.
Session 11 - Alternative Medicine
- alternative medicine is one aspect of integrative medicine, conventional medicine is yet another aspect
- treatments that are not taught in medical schools
- mixture of different systems (Aryruvedic, Chinese, massage, chiropractic)
- Traditional Chinese (based on ideas of energy circulation around the body, Chi energy - disease is the result of too little or too much energy at particular points in the body) and Aryuvedic medicines
- Pulse diagnosis
Session 3 - Healthy Eating Throughout your Life, Part 1
- How we eat is one of the determinants of how we feel and how we age.
- Cook mushrooms before eating
- Eat less animal proteins, more fish and beans
Session 4 Healthy Eating Throughout your Life, Part 1
- Vitamins: don’t look at supplements as substitutes, but to ensure that gaps in the diet are met
- Vitamin E: 400 units a day are good and is hard to get by eating (too much fat)
- Water soluble vitamins: B complex and C - can be easily and quickly eliminated in body via urine, less risk of toxicity
Fat soluble vitamins: A, D, E, and K - these can accumulate in the body
Water soluble vitamins:
- B complex vitamins supplements (folic acid, folate) recommended for smokers, drinkers, erratic diets, stressful travel schedules, etc.
- Vitamin B1 Thiamin - if you drink alcohol take 100 mg a day
- Vitamin B12 for vegetarian/vegans, as it is only found in animal foods
- Vitamin C in 100 - 200 mg a day as supplement is a good idea
Fat soluble vitamins
- Vitamin A: important for skin and surface tissues, also has anti-oxidant and anti-cancer effects. It is made by the body.
Session 11 - Alternative Medicine
- alternative medicine is one aspect of integrative medicine, conventional medicine is yet another aspect
- treatments that are not taught in medical schools
- mixture of different systems (Aryruvedic, Chinese, massage, chiropractic)
- Traditional Chinese (based on ideas of energy circulation around the body, Chi energy - disease is the result of too little or too much energy at particular points in the body) and Aryuvedic medicines
- Pulse diagnosis
October 30, 2022
This is perhaps the best book I have read on the idea of health and how to achieve it, maintain it, and where to seek the right help to set yourself up for success.
Dr. Weil constantly surprises me with his content. The course content I reviewed on his Integrative Medicine program wasn't impressive but now I understand that his intention wasn't for us conventional physicians to know everything there is to know about alternative medicine.
Instead, his idea is to train a group of physicians who know where and whom to refer their patients for the right intervention, from ayurvedic medicine to traditional Chinese to energy therapy.
I have definitely been blind to these other treatments and interventions because I don't have the bandwidth to learn about them. This individualism in medicine is commonplace and not only leads to physician burnout but also harms the patients.
Granted, I can't tell a patient about hypnosis if they aren't open to it. The right tool for the right job.
Dr. Weil constantly surprises me with his content. The course content I reviewed on his Integrative Medicine program wasn't impressive but now I understand that his intention wasn't for us conventional physicians to know everything there is to know about alternative medicine.
Instead, his idea is to train a group of physicians who know where and whom to refer their patients for the right intervention, from ayurvedic medicine to traditional Chinese to energy therapy.
I have definitely been blind to these other treatments and interventions because I don't have the bandwidth to learn about them. This individualism in medicine is commonplace and not only leads to physician burnout but also harms the patients.
Granted, I can't tell a patient about hypnosis if they aren't open to it. The right tool for the right job.
May 3, 2021
If your looking for a step toward natural healing and an intro into alternative medicines, pick this one up. I like the idea of holistic healing and utilizing the herbs that have been effective for thousands of years. I like the balance that Dr. Weil puts forth that there is a place for all types of healing. I think we have become too closed off to the familiar. Take a minute and consider that there are other methods that work, the peruse this book. If none of it appeals to you, at least you have the background on another viewpoint.
Joseph McKnight
http://www.Joseph mcknight.com
Joseph McKnight
http://www.Joseph mcknight.com
June 24, 2017
This is my first Dr. Weil book and I admit I am hooked.
His holistic/integrative view of medicine speaks to me in various ways, and the fact that he views psychotherapy favorably as a means to physical health is in line with my beliefs as well.
The ONLY reason I put it as 4 stars, is I wish this was made into a book, OR was even a transcript version of the book, so that I could make notes and refer back to it in paper form.
Otherwise the book is stellar. :)
His holistic/integrative view of medicine speaks to me in various ways, and the fact that he views psychotherapy favorably as a means to physical health is in line with my beliefs as well.
The ONLY reason I put it as 4 stars, is I wish this was made into a book, OR was even a transcript version of the book, so that I could make notes and refer back to it in paper form.
Otherwise the book is stellar. :)
July 29, 2024
Similar to books by Mark Hyman and Peter Attia, except less introspective and egotistical, and even more practical and straightforward. Did a great job not going into endless detail about subjects not relevant to all readers. Seemed pretty comprehensive on his outlook, but maybe not. I will look to see if the author has more info that is worth reading. This audiobook was WAY better than his Joe Rogan interview which unfortunately had too much Joe.
April 14, 2018
Easy to read, common sense advice. Life changer! I'm taking lots of his advice, little by little. In fact, the only thing I didn't agree with in the book is that he said physical therapy usually doesn't work. Amazing in a book like this, only one thing I didn't buy into. Really, really well written with good, usable information
July 1, 2020
A comprehensive look at integrative medicine and health. We need to figure out how to take care of ourselves and this is the perfect guideline for doing so. Being healthy no matter what age, is important, but it is increasingly important the older we get. There is no simple answer to having a good quality of life. One has to be open to change.
November 23, 2019
A lot of the information wasn’t new to me, but it never hurts to hear it again. This audiobook is very informative, and the thoughts and suggestions are presented very conversationally which makes for a great listen!
October 29, 2020
Love the audio of this because he’s so down to earth sounding and easy to listen to. This is a great basic guide to nutrition, health and integrative medicine and wellness. Likely a review for those who have followed him for years.
June 26, 2018
Good book with sound advice and interesting discussion of health issues. Horrible audiobook production values.
May 29, 2019
It might have been ground breaking when it came out but I feel like I had heard a lot of this content before from elsewhere. It's good content, to be sure.
May 11, 2021
High level and comprehensive with some good tips
June 8, 2022
Many simple ideas to improve your health.
September 18, 2022
Read by the author, excellent practical advice on food & supplements for good health. A good resource book.
March 25, 2023
Really good information
June 2, 2024
I would feel pretty good about having Dr Weil as my doctor.
June 26, 2024
Information overload for sure.
I now have to buy the book for future references.
I now have to buy the book for future references.
August 10, 2024
Good information that I mostly follow already.
October 18, 2011
Dr. Andrew Weil is a long-time favorite of mine. I grew up reading his articles and books, so this was the first time I got a chance to hear his voice, and it was great -- He speaks as if you're in conversation with him; it doesn't sound scripted so you are able to pay attention to every word.
The three major highlights of this audio course, for me:
1. He talks about the various forms of 'alternative' (western) medicine and advises on correct dosage and form to buy. He also goes over some specific popular western medicines and declares some of them to be fairly useless, for reasons x,y,z. For example, gingko -- not shown to increase oxygen flow to the brain UNLESS you have poor circulation there in the first place. Who knew!?
2. Some examples and case studies he provides are particularly interesting. In the last cd he talks about energy. He says that in a demonstration once, people partnered up, hand-in-hand and one (the sender) had to silently push energy out of either the right or left hand, while the other (receiver) had to guess/sense/feel which hand was sending the energy. After 10 minutes he said there was something like an 80% success rate. Pretty cool.
3. He strongly believes that the patient should be empowered to understand how to heal him/herself. Recognizing that we are in a society whose people do not truly have access to integrated medicine, he calls upon us to individually educate ourselves and take it to then educate our physician. Or else, just take a little control of the situation. For example, if you're getting a surgical procedure done, you could find out a way to get a meditation cd to play as you are under anesthetic, that repeats how you will heal quickly with little pain, or something along those lines. In other words, you bring what you want to "integrate" into any conventional treatment you may be going through.
Ultimately, Weil is one of the best because he does not discredit any method of healing merely for its source; he relies on EXPERIENCE as well as "scientific proof" and research studies. But his experience always wins to any published research or lack thereof. This leads to his acknowledgement of many different traditional medicines and healing methods around the world, along with his equal disregard for some of the same. This why he is a credible source, in my opinion.
Of course there is a lot to get into and a lot of knowledge to purge onto a few cds, but just to keep in mind -- This is mostly a course on nutrition, general lifestyle and basic western alternative medicine. There are a few East-West integrated medicine components, and Ayrevedic and Chinese medicine are not really discussed in any detail.
If you're just getting into nutrition, I would absolutely recommend reading or listening to something by Dr. Andrew Weil, like this audiocd. He presents the information from a highly educated, conventional medicine background (his BS is in Botany and MD, both from Harvard). He has been in the field for decades, has traveled to a few continents extensively studying different practices, and he lives what he preaches. There is always something to be learned from Dr. Weil.
The three major highlights of this audio course, for me:
1. He talks about the various forms of 'alternative' (western) medicine and advises on correct dosage and form to buy. He also goes over some specific popular western medicines and declares some of them to be fairly useless, for reasons x,y,z. For example, gingko -- not shown to increase oxygen flow to the brain UNLESS you have poor circulation there in the first place. Who knew!?
2. Some examples and case studies he provides are particularly interesting. In the last cd he talks about energy. He says that in a demonstration once, people partnered up, hand-in-hand and one (the sender) had to silently push energy out of either the right or left hand, while the other (receiver) had to guess/sense/feel which hand was sending the energy. After 10 minutes he said there was something like an 80% success rate. Pretty cool.
3. He strongly believes that the patient should be empowered to understand how to heal him/herself. Recognizing that we are in a society whose people do not truly have access to integrated medicine, he calls upon us to individually educate ourselves and take it to then educate our physician. Or else, just take a little control of the situation. For example, if you're getting a surgical procedure done, you could find out a way to get a meditation cd to play as you are under anesthetic, that repeats how you will heal quickly with little pain, or something along those lines. In other words, you bring what you want to "integrate" into any conventional treatment you may be going through.
Ultimately, Weil is one of the best because he does not discredit any method of healing merely for its source; he relies on EXPERIENCE as well as "scientific proof" and research studies. But his experience always wins to any published research or lack thereof. This leads to his acknowledgement of many different traditional medicines and healing methods around the world, along with his equal disregard for some of the same. This why he is a credible source, in my opinion.
Of course there is a lot to get into and a lot of knowledge to purge onto a few cds, but just to keep in mind -- This is mostly a course on nutrition, general lifestyle and basic western alternative medicine. There are a few East-West integrated medicine components, and Ayrevedic and Chinese medicine are not really discussed in any detail.
If you're just getting into nutrition, I would absolutely recommend reading or listening to something by Dr. Andrew Weil, like this audiocd. He presents the information from a highly educated, conventional medicine background (his BS is in Botany and MD, both from Harvard). He has been in the field for decades, has traveled to a few continents extensively studying different practices, and he lives what he preaches. There is always something to be learned from Dr. Weil.
September 8, 2016
He shares reasoned and researched plans to gain and maintain our health in a way that is honest (he never claims to have all of the answers and that no one method works for all) and personable manner.
Firstly, his definition of health refreshes the modern perspective. Rather than the typical meaning of health proffered by conventional doctors is simply, "the absence of disease".
Weil vocalizes what should be the more intuitive meaning of "a positive state of wholeness and balance in which an organism functions efficiently and interacts smoothly with its environment. Good health comes from an innate resilience that allows you to move through life without suffering harm from toxins, germs, allergens and changing environmental and dietary conditions."
This doesn't imply being in a state of perfection at all times. The body is in flux. At any one time in the day, our heart may beat faster, we feel a twinge in our gut or increased pressure in the sinuses all occur. Our body is built, ideally, to correct itself. Our DNA does this, thus, it's at our core.
This includes our moods as well. He points out that the full range of emotions is healthy and it's how we handle these situations that matter.
Also, he explores the complimentary therapies available to be used from homoeopathy, hypnosis, herbal teas, meditation and massage, to name but a few, that are also preventative measures.
Wisdom resounds through each chapter and I wish everyone would peruse this and his other works, to find new ways to expand our health to allow our bodies to take advantage of its own ability to heal.
Firstly, his definition of health refreshes the modern perspective. Rather than the typical meaning of health proffered by conventional doctors is simply, "the absence of disease".
Weil vocalizes what should be the more intuitive meaning of "a positive state of wholeness and balance in which an organism functions efficiently and interacts smoothly with its environment. Good health comes from an innate resilience that allows you to move through life without suffering harm from toxins, germs, allergens and changing environmental and dietary conditions."
This doesn't imply being in a state of perfection at all times. The body is in flux. At any one time in the day, our heart may beat faster, we feel a twinge in our gut or increased pressure in the sinuses all occur. Our body is built, ideally, to correct itself. Our DNA does this, thus, it's at our core.
This includes our moods as well. He points out that the full range of emotions is healthy and it's how we handle these situations that matter.
Also, he explores the complimentary therapies available to be used from homoeopathy, hypnosis, herbal teas, meditation and massage, to name but a few, that are also preventative measures.
Wisdom resounds through each chapter and I wish everyone would peruse this and his other works, to find new ways to expand our health to allow our bodies to take advantage of its own ability to heal.
September 19, 2016
Audiobook. I think this is a must listen to for everyone. Dr. Weil " reads" himself but it actually feels more like he is talking to you about your health. Not in a preachy way, just practical ways to take care of ourselves. Some of it you may have heard before, eat your fruits and vegetables, limit processed foods, limit meat products, exercise. I think we all need constant reminders of how to take care of ourselves. He goes through everything and gives basic instruction from what to eat and not eat then goes on to specific disease states. He does not emphasize how important all of this is to prevent Type II diabetes ( he focuses more on heart disease and cancer ) but I think this book was recorded before Type II diabetes became such an epidemic. He talks about integrative therapy and how there are other types of "medicine" that may be beneficial in addition to primary medicine ( acupuncture, massage therapy, Ayurveda ) in addition connections with other people and pets. Basically we all need to take care of our bodies. It is up to each of us as individuals, your doctor can help diagnose you and guide you to treatment but it ultimately up to you. For the most part what goes into our bodies is what comes out.
September 11, 2010
Dr. Andrew Weil is one of my favorite health gurus. I have read several of his books, and I especially enjoy his soothing, down-to-earth voice as he reads his own audio books. This book is the longest and most comprehensive of his books of advice, covering everything from diet, exercise, supplements, herbs, homeopathy, the mind-body connection, hypno-therapy, healthy aging, sprituality, etc., etc., etc., I could quote this book forever, but the best recommendation is just to say that if we all followed Dr. Weil's sensible advice about nutrition, exercise, and attitude, this would be a world populated by centenarians! This book should be a staple on all shelves for ready reference on just about every topic for staying healthy.
September 18, 2013
This is set up more as a recorded seminar than a book. It was fantastic!
My doctor recently prescribed Dr. Weil's anti-inflamatory diet. There was plenty of information online to get me started but I really want to know more about the WHYs behind the diet. Dr. Weil explains the diet and many other topics related to health in a systematic and easy to understand way. My goal was to have enough information for prioritizing diet changes and this book exceeded my expectations. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants a holistic, big picture view of health and wellness.
My doctor recently prescribed Dr. Weil's anti-inflamatory diet. There was plenty of information online to get me started but I really want to know more about the WHYs behind the diet. Dr. Weil explains the diet and many other topics related to health in a systematic and easy to understand way. My goal was to have enough information for prioritizing diet changes and this book exceeded my expectations. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants a holistic, big picture view of health and wellness.
March 19, 2007
Interesting audio program giving in-breadth coverage of how to build better health by making simple and easy changes to daily routine life. A lot of information is given about various foods, nutrients, physical fitness, medicine/healing systems, that would appeal to anyone who wants to improve his/her health. Although this contains some information that I already knew, it is presented in a very coherent and straight forward way; which makes it easier to implement.
March 14, 2008
A LOT of information...i have read a ton of dr. weil's books and have enjoyed most of them. this one covers so much material it may take a while even to listen to. it is a great overview of so many natural and holistic ways to address health. he really discusses the benefits of holistic medicine and is just an endless wealth of knowledge on the subject
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews